Nine-year-old boy stabbed to death by 12-year-old in US playground

A nine-year-old boy has died after being repeatedly stabbed by a 12-year-old boy in a playground in Michigan.

Michael Conner Verkerke was playing with three other children at a playground in Kentwood, near Grand Rapids on Monday evening when one of the boys pulled out a knife and repeatedly stabbed him in the back.

Kentwood Police Chief Thomas Hillen said the motive for the attack was still unknown.

Local resident Glen Stacy said the older boy asked to use his phone after the attack, to turn himself in.